What is the principle of universality at the Olympics?

It is not uncommon to see the clause "qualification through the principle of universality" on Olympic entry lists. But what is it? How can athletes take advantage of it?

Some countries qualify dozens or even hundreds of athletes for the Games, while in some countries the list of representatives barely exceeds ten people. And it is the latter that the principle of universality is designed to help.

What is the principle of universality?

For countries that are small by Olympic standards, universality makes the games more accessible by allowing them to ask the International Olympic Committee for a place in a particular sport.

For example, in breaking, which we told you about, Taiwanese b-boy Sun Chen got the quota according to the principle of universality.

Who can get a place under the principle of universality?

Not every National Olympic Committee can apply for a Universal Seat.

The National Olympic Committees that have represented eight or fewer athletes in the last two Olympics (Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, if we're talking about the Paris Games) are mostly eligible for universality places.

The list of countries that qualify for spots on the basis of universality mostly includes dwarf and island nations, as well as 35 African countries. In total, there are 93 National Olympic Committees.

For example, as many as 28 of the 67 entries for the men's 50-metre freestyle swimming at the 2020 Games were used on the principle of universality out of a total of 67. These countries include Eswatini, Rwanda, Mongolia, Marshall Islands, for example.

Which body is responsible for the allocation of places under the principle of universality?

The work with this principle is entrusted to the Tripartite Commission of the Olympic Games.

This Commission is composed of representatives of the IOC, the Association of National Olympic Committees and the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations.

How does the allocation of places take place?

Firstly, the NOC which fulfils the principle and which is interested in having its athlete participate in a particular sport applies to the Commission to grant a quota.

This can happen either immediately or in case of fulfilment of certain criteria, which are no longer set by the Commission, but by the International Federation in a particular sport.

The Commission then brings all the requests together and analyses them according to certain criteria, including: universal representation, qualification of athletes and their technical level, balance between continents and genders, as well as the preferences of International Sports Federations and National Olympic Committees.

The allocation process itself takes place after the end of the qualification tournaments, in which the Commission distributes the quotas according to the selected National Olympic Committees.

Is it possible to get a place on the principle of universality in each sport?

No, it's impossible. There is a clearly regulated list of sports in which some places are reserved on the principle of universality:

• Aquatics*
• Archery
• Athletics*
• Badminton
• Boxing
• Breaking
• Canoeing (sprint and/or slalom)
• Cycling (BMX and mountain biking)
• Equestrian***
• Fencing
• Golf**
• Gymnastics (artistic, artistic and trampoline)
• Judo
• Modern Pentathlon
• Rowing
• Sailing
• Shooting
• Skateboarding (park and street)
• Sport climbing (bouldering, lead and speed)
• Surfing
• Table tennis
• Taekwondo
• Tennis
• Triathlon
• Weightlifting
• Wrestling**

* Universality places in athletics and aquatics are allocated through World Athletics and World Aquatics respectively and not through the Tripartite Commission.

** Universality places may become available through the redistribution process

*** Team sports and equestrian sports do not have universality seats administered by the Tripartite Commission.